Here you will find the complete recording and transcript of “How Birds Got Their Song,” which is segmented into four parts as part of the North Woods Project. Immerse yourself in the rich storytelling woven into the fabric of this landscape, where every rock, tree, and vernal pool has a story to tell. This timeless piece of Narragansett culture is a celebration of resilience, strength, and the power of storytelling.
“HOW BIRDS GOT THEIR SONG” (Complete Transcript)
Narrated by: Lynsea Montanari, Indigenous Empowerment Coordinator at the Tomaquag Museum
Total length: 6 minutes 19 seconds
[Initial welcome in Narragansett]
What I said there is “Hi, my name is Lynsea” in English. My name is Wamausukitthan or LovingSea in the Narragansett language and thank you so much for listening to me today. I am a member of the Narragansett tribe. And today I’m going to be sharing with you one of our traditional stories- “How Bird Got Its Song”.
Part 1 (30 seconds)
Many, many moons ago, Kytan the creator was walking through the wattáp (woods, the bottom), when he came across the Narragansett people singing their morning song. [♫ Singing in Narragansett ♫]
And as he was listening, he looked around and he could see that all the birds were in the trees, listening to the Narraganset song as well.
And that’s when he realized he had forgotten something. “I’ve forgotten to give the birds a song”. And so he called all the birds in the trees. “Pussekesèsuck, birds come here”.
And when they were gathered around, he told them, “I had forgotten to give you a song. And so, if you meet me here tomorrow at sunrise, tell all the birds you know, I will give you all the gift of song”.
And the birds were so exciting for they had dreamed of this day. Every morning they had awoken with the sunrise, just hoping to hear the Narragansetts sing their beautiful song and wishing and dreaming that one day they could have one as well. And the birds they called their mothers and the grandmothers and everyone they knew. “Nókace, I am going to get a song. You are going to get a song. We’re going to get a song”. The next day there were so many birds in the trees that some of the trees were bent over and that’s how we got our weeping willow tree.
Part 2 (2 minutes 15 seconds)
Now all the birds have gathered, Kytan came walking in and he announced to the birds, “Today I will give you a song”. “What you shall do is line up and when it is your turn, you will fly up into SkyWorld as high as you can and that will determine what song you get”. Each bird got their turn. The Jay when “Jay, Jay” Then the Chickadee went “♫ chickadee, chickadee ♫.”
Excuse me, I’m not too good at bird songs.
Oh, Crow actually had beautiful white feathers until he was caught smoking in the tobacco fields. And everybody knows that smoking is not good for you. And so, his feathers got covered in the black from the smoke. And when it was his turn, he tried to fly as high as he could, but he couldn’t get too far…until [cough, cough], “caw, caw, caw”. Everybody knows you shouldn’t smoke.
One by one those birds are going. Next came the hummingbird, and she knew she could not fly as high as Chickadee or the Blue Jay, but she was going to try her hardest. She flapped her wings as hard as she could. And her song did not come from her mouth but instead came from the hum of her flapping her wings and her trying her hardest.
Part 3 (3 minutes 51seconds)
Now meanwhile, while all this was going on, a little Woodland Thrush was getting a little bit nervous. You see, she had always wanted a song. She had dreamed of it more than anyone. She just knew that she needed to have a beautiful song. But she could not fly as high as a Blue Jay and she could not end up with a song like Crow. She was just so nervous. What was she to do? And that’s when she got an idea.
She saw Eagle. Great Eagle stepped front of her. I will climb up into the back of his neck feathers and when great eagle flies and right when he is about to turn around, I will jump out of the back of his neck feathers, and I will fly into Skyworld and I will get the most beautiful song.
That’s what she did. She crept into the back of his neck feathers.
And when it was Eagle’s turn, off he went. Woosh, woosh, woosh. Flying high above any of the birds where they had gone and he made it almost to Skyworld and he could have gone up to Skyworld, but he realized he’d already flown higher than any of the other birds. He didn’t want to embarrass them. And right as he started to turn around the Woodland Thrush jumped out of the back of his neck feathers and flew up into SkyWorld. And when she got there, she was so excited!
I have the most beautiful song! She sat there and she practiced her “♫ me, me mees ♫” and her “♫ la, la las ♫” until they were perfect. Of course, nobody’s perfect, but you couldn’t tell the Woodland Thrush that. And there she went so excited. She blew down singing her song all the way.
And she was really excited until of course, you started to see the birds faces and when she landed, she realized that all the birds were looking at her. And she felt embarrassed for they all knew that she had cheated. And so, she hung her head down low, and she walked off into the XXX. Now, you can only ever hear the Woodland Thrush’s song if you go out into the woods when she thinks nobody else is listening, she sings.Taûbotne anawáyean [Thank you]
About the Author and Narrator
Lynsea Montanari is the Indigenous Empowerment Coordinator for the Tomaquag Museum. Lynsea first joined the Museum as a high school intern with the then-new Indigenous Empowerment Program, where she found her passion as an activist-educator. As the Indigenous Empowerment Coordinator, Lynsea will be creating programming for the local Indigenous community, and is especially excited to develop language revitalization resources. Lynsea earned her B.A. in Organizational Leadership and Change from College Unbound. Lynsea is a visual artist, writer, and musician, and uses her artwork to explore what it means to be an Indigenous woman in the 21st century. Tying her art to her activism, Lynsea uses whatever tools she can to put beauty back into the universe: she has written a poetry manuscript about healing; writes and performs her original music; and has presented her visual art across New England.
Recorded and Produced by Erin Edmonds
Erin has worked for the University of Rhode Island for over 15 years. She began her professional career in research, transitioned into experiential education and is now exploring the world of science writing. As a science enthusiast, she hopes to continue her learning journey by challenging assumptions, and celebrating the beauty of the scientific world. She is a native Rhode Islander who loves spending time with her husband and two small children.
Thanks to the New England Algonquian Language Revival for providing spelling assistance for Narragansett words: www.bigorrin.org/waabu.htm
The North Woods Project walking tour is brought to you by the DWELL Lab and sponsored by funding from the NSF and the University of Rhode Island. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website and digital media project do not necessarily represent those of our sponsors.
